​ISIS will ‘stop at nothing’ to strengthen presence in Libya – UN

Men in orange jumpsuits purported to be Egyptian Christians held captive by the Islamic State (IS) are marched by armed men along a beach said to be near Tripoli, in this still image from an undated video made available on social media (Reuters / Social media via Reuters TV) / Reuters

Islamic State militants will strengthen their presence in Libya and their risk to national unity is “real and imminent”, the UN special envoy to the country has warned, urging for Libya’s request for international help to be taken seriously

UN special envoy
Bernardino Leon has told the United Nations Security Council that
the situation in Libya where two rival governments are battling
for control is in danger of being hijacked by the Islamic
State.

Amid the growing chaos in Libya the Islamic State (formerly known
as ISIS/ISIL) militants captured three oil fields from security
forces Tuesday, although Colonel Hakim Maazab, who heads the
brigade that is in charge of guarding central oil fields, told
the Wall Street Journal that they are planning to recapture the
Dahra field.

“I have no doubt that terrorists groups, such as Islamic
State, will stop at nothing in their bid to play on existing
political divisions...to consolidate their own presence and
influence in Libya,” Leon told the 15-member council on
Wednesday.

He added that the urgency and alarm underneath the Libyan request
for international help should not be ignored or underestimated.

Libya, with Egyptian support, has asked for the Security Council
to completely lift an arms embargo that was imposed in 2011 in the final
weeks of Muammar Gaddafi’s rule.

“These requests [are] related to reinforcing the abilities of
the Libyan air force so that it may be able to monitor Libyan
territory and borders and prevent the terrorists from breaching
oil fields and oil facilities and so that it can protect the
fortunes and the wealth of the country,” said Libyan UN
Ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi.

The embargo has so far failed to stop streams of illegal weapons
smuggled into and from the country since Gaddafi’s death. At the
moment, a sanctions committee decides whether shipments to the
government should be allowed on a case-by-case basis.

The Libyan authorities have also asked for international maritime
help to try and stem the illicit trade in oil and weapons flowing
in and out of the county.

“Unless Libyan leaders act quickly and decisively, the risk
of their country's national unity and territorial integrity are
real and imminent,” Leon said.

Neighboring Tunisia has been opposed to any military intervention
in Libya calling for a political solution. “The current
instability in Libya is a result of NATO's military intervention
in that country,” the country’s PM Habib Essid said in
mid-February.

Last month Egyptian warplanes already struck Islamic State
targets in Libya after ISIS-affiliated militants beheaded 21
Coptic Christians on a beach in Libya and then posted a video of
the mass killing online.

As violence flares across Libya the UN has been preparing to
restart negotiations between the two opposing factions, broker a
ceasefire and form a unity government.

As well as the Dahra oil field the Mabruk and Bahi oil fields
were also stormed by unknown gunmen on Monday and Tuesday, who
were said by Col Maazab to be belong to Daesh, the Arabic name
for Islamic State, and who destroyed a lot of equipment.